Closure and its manufacture



1937. J. J. WILLIAMS 2,091,295

CLOSURE AND ITS MANUFACTURE Filed July 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l II II I I II .....................I

ginua'ntoz J57? J Williams Aug. 31, 1937. J. J. WI'LLIAIQIS 2,091,295

CLOSURE AND ITS MANUFACTURE Filed July 5, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z V I g & Jim Jaw/22mm Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE AND ITS MANUFACTURE Iohn J. Williams, Wheeling, W. Va., assignor to Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, Wheeling, W. Va.,

a. corporation of West Virginia Application July 5, 1933, Serial No. 679,139

17 Claims. (Cl. 113121 particularly adapted for use with an ordinary screw thread finish on containers, such as are commonly employed with screw caps. 10 Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method by which such closures may be manufactured in an eflicient, rapid and inexpensive manner.

The present application is a continuation in 15 part of my applications Ser. Nos. 671,908 and 671,909, filed May 19, 1933. The method and apparatus I disclosed in application Ser. No. 671,908, forms part of the present invention, and the cap disclosed in application Ser. No. 671,909, 90 may be modified to form the cap of the present invention, although the present cap is not limited to the specific structure of the cap shown in Ser. No. 671,909.-

Various objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of the ap- 30 paratus for forming the incurled bead on the cap and also forming the first stage of the lug formation.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of the curling ring removed from the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the formation of the incurled bead and the first stage of the lug formation.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the closure as formed in the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus for completing the cap.

Figure 6 is a detail elevational view of the spiral forming ring removed from the apparatus.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the completed I Numeral l refers to a blank which, prior to being acted on by the apparatus, is of ordinary cylindrical shape. It is placed upon a plug 2 by any desired means. A resiliently mounted centering plate (not shown) is preferably associated with the plug. This plugis mounted on the die block 3, which is secured to the bolster plate of an ordinary punch press (not shown), or to any other desired machine.

Numeral 4 refers to the ring holder, which is clamped to ,the ram of an ordinary punch press (not shown), or to any other mechanism providing a reciprocating movement. This reciprocable ring holder carries several parts, which will now be described. Numeral 5 indicates a guide or centering ring, which is carried by the holder, and which has a snug fit with the cap blank; the lower end of this ring being preferably flared, as indicated by numeral 6. The curling ring or die .is referred to by numeral 1, and it is provided with an annular curlin'ggroove 8, which is semicircular in cross-section. This curling groove is continuous except \at the points 'where the lugs are to be formed, and at these points the die is provided with cut-out portions 9. The functions of the curling groove and thelug-forming cut-out portions will be described hereinafter. Numeral l0 refers to a' clamping and ejector pad; provided with an upwardly extending stem H. of the stem is a coil spring 12; the lower end of the spring being seated in the upper end of the holder, and the upper end of the spring resting be described, and then will follow a description of the manner inwhich the die forms the incurled bead and the first stage of the lug formation.

As the ram of the press descends the guide or centering ring fits snugly around the cylindrical cap blank, thereby not only accurately centering Arranged about the upper end the blank with respect to the descending die ring,

but also supporting the skirt or flange of the blank to prevent any outward bulging of the skirt when the die acts on the rim or edge of the blank.

Further downward movementiforces the pad 10.

firmly against the inside top of the blank thereby holding the blank firmly seated on the plug 2 durlngthe pressing operation. The pad l0 now remains stationary,'but the curling ring or die I continues to descend against the pressure of spring l5, to the proper position to produce the desired eifect on the cap blank. The parts are shown in their lowered or cap-forming position 5 in Figure 1. The ram now rises, and during the first part of the upward movement the pad i0 is held stationary against the cap by the spring IS. The cap is thus moved from the die but it may still be within the centering ring .5 by reason of the snug fit between this ring and the cap. As

the upward movement of the holder and ram continues the die ring I and washer it come together and then the pad rises with the holder, and during the continued upward movement the stem ll of the pad l0 strikes a stop (not shown) on the press. This causes the upward motion of the pad to be stopped, While the other parts of the upper die, including the centering ring 5, continue to rise, the spring it. being compressed. This action causes the cap to be ejected from the centering ring. The parts are now ready to start another cycle of operation.

When the die first comes into contact with the rim or edge of the cylindrical blank, the curling groove 8, which is a complete circle, and which is substantially semicircular in cross-section except where the lugs are formed, causes the entire rim or edge of the blank to start to curl inwardly, as indicated by numeral H on the diagrammatic Figure 3. The lug forming portions 9 of the die are of peculiar construction. The outer part is curved on the same curvature as that of the curling groove and conforms exactly therewith, as clearly shown in Figure 2; but it will be noted that the curvature of the curling groove is completed to a semicircular form, while the lugforming portions curve in only a very slight distance, preferably just enough to start the metal to curve. Of course the extent of the curved portion may be varied as desired. The tops of the cut-out portions extend inwardly and upwardly, as indicated by numeral I8, from the point where the curved surface ends, in the specific form illustrated herein; but it will be understood that this inclined portion may be entirely omitted, as it has 'no effect on the operation. In other words. the die could be cut away completely at the points where the curvature ends, so that there would be an open space over the metal where the lugs are being formed, except for the slight curved portion. As the die continues to descend, the curling groove, which is substantially semicircular in cross section, positively causes the metal of the blank to continue its curving until it makes a complete or substantially complete circle; as shown by dotted lines in the diagrammatic Figure 3, and referred to by numeral l9. However, the metal of the blank at the cut-out portions of the die, is not positively forced to continue its curving; 60 but on the contrary, these cut-out portions permit the metal which is being curled to merely draw the metal at the cut-outs downward. So that the metal at the cut-outs lags behind the other metal and will first assume a substantially 65 horizontal position, and if the die descends further the metal will assume a downwardly in-,

clined position.

If the above operation was intended to complete the cap, as in my application Ser. No. 671,908, the die would preferably descend far enough to cause the lugs to incline downwardly; but in accordance with the present invention, this first operation only partly forms the cap, and for reasons to appear hereinafter it is desirablethat the die descend only far enough to plied. A cap having been formed with the lugs 5 draw the lugs down to a horizontal position or slightly above or below the horizontal position.

The cap, as thus far completed, is shown in Figure 4. It comprises the incurled bead 20, and lugs 2i; the lugs and incurled bead being c0nnected by triangular portions or gussets 22. While the incurled bead is being formed and while the lug-forming portions are being drawn inwardly and downwardly by the curling of the bead, an arch or depression is formed in the bead where 10 the lugs are located, as indicated by numeral 23. These arches or depressions terminate in slight humps 26, which rise a very slight distance above the normal plane of the bead; and it is to be noted that these arches are not fiat transversely 15 but are curved transversely, as clearly shown in the drawings.

While the cap thus far formed has been described in considerable detail, yet it is to be understood that the cap of the present invention is 20 not limited to this specific structure, and likewise the method and apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the specific apparatus or method for performing the operations thus far described. 25

The cap which has been described, and which is shown in Figure 4, is the same as that disclosed in my above-mentioned application Ser. No. 671,909, and the method and apparatus for forming it are the same as disclosed in my application Ser. N0. 30 671,908. The cap of Figure 4 is completed if it is to be used with containers having any of the various lug type finishes. The present invention, however, relates to caps and their manufacture for use with containers having ordinary screw 35 thread finishes such as are commonly used with screw caps. The further step, for converting lug caps, such, for example, as shown in Figure 4, into caps adapted for use with the common screw thread finish, will now be described, reference 40 being had particularly to Figures 5 to 11.

The apparatus shown in Figure 5 is substantially the same in all of its operating parts as that shown in Figure 1, except that a spiral die 25 has been substituted for the curling and lugforming die I. As all of the other parts remain the same they have been given the same reference numerals as in Figure 1, and as the operation of all of these parts, except the spiral die 25, remain the same it is unnecessary to repeat 50 the description of the operation of such parts.

The die 25 is provided with a spiral thread 26, which is of the same pitch as that of the threads on the containers to which the caps are to be apall in the same plane, as for example by the apparatus shown in Figure 1, such cap is transferred, mechanically or by hand, from the plug 2 of the apparatus of Figure 1 to the plug 2 of the apparatus of Figure 5. The parts are now 60 moved downwardly, just as described in connection with the operation of the apparatus of Figure 1, and after the pad ID has been brought firmly against the inside of the top of the blank the spiral thread 26 of the die comes into contact with the lugs. The lowest portion of the thread will be the first to contact with one of the lugs and that lug will be forced downwardly, and as the die continues to descend other parts of the threadwill be brought into contactwith other lugs 70 to force them downwardly difierent distances, ,until finally the thread has come into contact with all of the lugs. The machine may be set so that the downward movement will stop just as the higher portion of the thread comes into 75 contact with one of the lugs,'or it may be set to continue the downward movement a very slight distance after such contact. But whatever the setting of the machine may be, it will be 5 apparent that after the die has functioned each of the lugs will be in a difierent plane, one of them may be in a horizontal plane or slightly above such plane, and each of the successive lugs will be in different and lower planes; the result being that the lugs will lie in the exact spiral of that of the die thread, which is of course of the same pitch as the threads on the container. Consequently the lug cap is adapted to be applied to a container with a thread finish in exactly the same manner as an ordinary screw cap.

When the parts move upwardly the pad l0 will remain against the inside top of the cap until the die has been lifted a short distance, and as the upward movement continues the pad will eject the cap from the centering ring 5 just as described in the operation of the apparatusof Figure 1. i

The formation of the lugs in different plane is shown in Figures 5 and 6, but is best illustrated in Figures 8 to 11, which show the lugs arranged in successively lower planes. In the specific form illustrated four lugs are employed, but obviously the number of lugs may be greater or less; and it is important to note that it is immaterial in which position the cap is mounted on the plug 2, for no matter where the lugs happen to be the final result will be the same, that is the horizontal plane of each lug will differ. in accordance with the pitch of the spiral thread 26 of the die.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have devised a very simple and inexpensive lug cap adapted for use with a conventional thread finish, and also an efl'icient and simple apparatus and method for manufacturing 40 such caps. Of course the invention is not limited to the specific form of the cap shown, and it will also be understood that the cap in its first stage, i. e., with the lugs in the same plane, need not be formed by the apparatus or method particularly described herein.

The cap of the present invention may be changed and modified in numerous respects, and the method and apparatus for arranging the lugs in different planes may likewise be changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A closure comprising a top and a skirt, an

inturned bead at the bottom 'of the skirt, a plurality of lugs projecting inwardly from said inturned bead, the operative portions of said lugs arranged in different planes and the bases of said lugs arranged in substantially the same plane,

for the purpose described.

2. A closure comprising a topand a skirt, an incurled bead at the bottom of the skirt, a plurality of lugs projecting inwardly, the operative portions of said lugs arranged in difierent planes, for engagement with a thread finish on contain.- ers, and the bases of said lugs arranged in substantially the same plane.

70 3. A closure comprising a top and a skirt, an inturned bead at the bottom of the skirt, four lugs projecting inwardly from said inturned bead, the operative portions of said lugs arranged in a spiral of the same pitch as the thread finish on con- 75 tainers with which the closures are to be used,

and the bases of said lugs arranged in substantially the same plane.

4. A closure comprising a top and a skirt, the rim of the skirt curled inwardly to form a bead on the inside of the cap, lugs projecting inwardly, 5 arched portions formed in the bead at the lugs, said lugs connected with the incurled bead, the operative portions'of said lugs being in difierent planes and the bases of said lugs arranged in substantially the same plane. 10

5. A closure comprising a top and a skirt,,the rim of the skirt curled inwardly to form a bead on the inside of the cap, lugs projecting inwardly, arched portions formed in the bead at the lugs, the arched portions terminating in humps slightly l5 beyond the normal plane of the bead, substantially triangular shaped gussets connecting the lugs with the incurled bead, and said lugs arranged in a spiral of the same pitch as the thread finish on containers with which the closures are to be 20 used.

6. A closure comprising a top and a skirt, a plurality of lugs extending inwardly from substantially the same plane in said skirt, said lugs being at different angles to the skirt so that the 5' operative portions of the lugs lie in a spiral path, for the purpose described.

7. A closure comprising a top and a skirt, a plurality, of lugs extending inwardly from said skirt, said lugs extending from substantially the 3( same plane in the bottom of the skirt to difierent horizontal planes so that the operative portions of the lugs lie in a spiral path, for the purpose described.

8. The method of forming metallic closures for containers having a continuous thread finish, which comprises forming container-engaging means on a closure and then subjecting the container engaging means to pressure by a member having a spiral surface of the same pitch as the 40 thread on the container.

9. A closure comprising a top and a skirt, the rim of the skirt curled inwardly, upwardly and outwardly to form a bead on the inside of the cap,

a plurality of lugs extending inwardly from said 45 head and connected with the out-curled portion thereof, the bases of said lugs being in a substantially common plane and the operative portions. of the lugs being in a spiral path, for the purpose described. 50

10. The method of forming metallic closures for containers having a continuous thread finish, which comprises engaging the raw edge of a blank with a die having an annular groove therein to form an incurled bead and forming on the 55 bead spirally arranged container-engaging means for cooperation with the continuous thread finish.

11. The method of forming metallic closures for containers having a continuous thread finish, which comprises engaging the raw edge of a blank 60 with a die having an annular groove therein to form an incurled bead substantially circular in cross-section and forming on'the bead spirally arranged container-engaging means for cooperation with the continuous thread finish. 65 I 12. The method of forming metallic closures for containers having a continuous thread finish, which comprises engaging the raw edge of a blank with a die having an annular groove therein to form an incurled bead and forming on the bead spirally arranged container-engaging means by amember carrying a'spiral thread-of the same pitch as the thread on thecontainer.

13. The method of forming metallic closures for containers having a continuous thread finish,

which comprises engaging the raw edge of a blank with a die having an annular groove therein to form an incurled bead substantially circular in cross-section and forming on the bead spirallyarranged container-engaging means by a member carrying a spiral thread of the same pitch as the thread on the container.

14. The method of forming metallic closures for containers having a continuous thread finish, which comprises engaging the raw edge of a blank with a die having an annular groove therein to form an incurled bead and by a die forming on the bead spirally arranged container-engaging means for cooperation with the continuous thread finish.

15. The method of forming metallic closures for containers having a continuous thread finish, which comprises engaging the raw edge of a blank with a die having an annular groove therein to form an incurled bead substantially circular in cross-section and by a die forming on the bead .spirally arranged container-engaging means for cooperation with the continuous thread finish.

16. The method of forming metallic closures for containers having a continuous thread finish, which comprises engaging the raw edge of a blank with a die having an annular groove therein to form an incurled bead and by a die having a spiral thread thereon forming on the bead spirally arranged container-engaging means for co0peration with the continuous thread finish.

17. The method of forming metallic closures for containers having a continuous thread finish, which comprises engaging the raw edge of a blank with a die having an annular groove therein to form an incur-led bead substantially circular in cross-section and by a die having a spiral thread thereon forming on the bead spirally arranged container-engaging means for cooperation with the continuous thread finish.

JOIN J. W HTLIMWEL 

